Sextus Empiricus
Who was Sextus Empiricus?
2nd-century Roman philosopher and physician
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Sextus Empiricus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sextus Empiricus, a Greek philosopher and physician, was active during the mid to late 2nd century CE. With Roman citizenship, he became the leading figure of Pyrrhonist skepticism, a philosophical school that argued for withholding judgment on matters that couldn't be definitively proven. His roles as both philosopher and physician matched the Empiric school of medicine, which valued observation and experience over theoretical ideas.
As a Pyrrhonist philosopher, Sextus built on the skeptical ideas started by Pyrrho of Elis in the 4th century BCE. He focused on the idea of epoché, or suspending judgment, which he saw as the way to reach ataraxia, a calm and indifferent state. Sextus thought that by seeing the equal strength of opposing arguments, one could find mental peace by avoiding the stress of committing to uncertain beliefs.
Sextus wrote important philosophical works that still exist today, making him a key source for understanding ancient Pyrrhonism. His most notable work, "Against the Ethicists," was part of a larger piece that questioned the basic assumptions of rival philosophical schools. His writings not only preserved Pyrrhonist ideas but also gave detailed descriptions of Stoic, Epicurean, and Academic philosophies, sometimes providing the only remaining records of certain arguments and theories from these schools.
In medicine, Sextus followed the Empiric school, which dismissed speculation about hidden causes of disease in favor of direct observation and experience. This aligned well with his philosophical skepticism, as both fields acknowledged the limits of human knowledge and the risks of dogmatic theorizing. His blend of medical empiricism with philosophical skepticism formed a unique intellectual mix that impacted both areas.
Sextus wrote during a time when philosophical schools were actively debating core questions about knowledge, ethics, and reality. His works show a deep understanding of contemporary philosophical debates while maintaining his typical skeptical viewpoint. Instead of supporting specific truth claims, he consistently presented equally strong arguments on both sides of disputed issues, allowing readers to decide for themselves about the trustworthiness of human reason and the possibility of certain knowledge.
Before Fame
We don't know much about Sextus Empiricus's early life or how he got into philosophy and medicine. He lived during the peak of the Roman Empire's cultural boom when Greek intellectual traditions were thriving with Roman support. The 2nd century CE was a time when there was a renewed interest in Greek philosophy, with different schools vying for influence among educated elites.
To become prominent as a philosopher in this era usually meant mastering established philosophical traditions and adding original ideas to ongoing debates. Sextus likely had traditional Greek education in rhetoric and philosophy before he focused on Pyrrhonist skepticism and Empirical medicine. He became known for systematically preserving and developing skeptical arguments passed down orally by earlier Pyrrhonist philosophers.
Key Achievements
- Preserved the most complete surviving account of ancient Pyrrhonist philosophy
- Authored 'Against the Ethicists' and other systematic critiques of Hellenistic philosophical schools
- Synthesized philosophical skepticism with empirical medical practice
- Developed sophisticated epistemological arguments about the limits of human knowledge
- Provided detailed documentation of competing ancient philosophical positions that would otherwise be lost
Did You Know?
- 01.His name 'Empiricus' directly references his adherence to the Empiric school of medicine, which rejected theoretical medicine in favor of observation-based practice
- 02.He preserved the only complete account of the 'Ten Modes' of Pyrrhonist argumentation, logical structures used to demonstrate the relativity of all judgments
- 03.His works contain over 200 references to other philosophers and schools, making him an invaluable source for reconstructing lost ancient philosophical texts
- 04.He practiced a form of skepticism so thorough that he even questioned whether skepticism itself could be considered true knowledge
- 05.His writings influenced the rediscovery of ancient skepticism during the Renaissance, particularly affecting philosophers like Michel de Montaigne